Maghar

Gilad Bezal’el Jaffe

28/02/2010

Final Report

During November 2007, a salvage excavation was conducted in the center of the village (Permit No. A-5288; map ref. 23842–7/75505–7), following damage to ancient remains during construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the contractor, was directed by G.B. Jaffe, with the assistance of Y. Ya‘aqobi (administration), R. Mishayev and T. Meltsen (surveying), M. Hartal (field photography, scientific guidance and ceramics), D. Avshalom-Gorni (ceramics), H. Tahan (pottery drawing) and laborers from the village.

A previous excavation in the area of the spring failed to uncover ancient remains (HA-ESI 116) and an older excavation (Permit No. A-31) has not been published.

An excavation area (c. 4 × 8 m) was opened and part of a building, whose walls were preserved c. 1 m high, was exposed. Fragments of pottery vessels that dated to the Early and Late Roman period were found below the fill, into which the walls were constructed.

Upon removal of surface, the tops of walls (W103, W104, W118; Fig. 1) were exposed. These were built of small and medium-sized fieldstones and formed two rooms, one located to the north of W104 (L115) and the other, to its south (L106). Wall 118 abutted the corner of Walls 103 and 104, yet postdated them but belonged to the same building (Fig. 2). A layer of hard dark brown soil and small stones, into which the two bottom courses of the walls were built, was discovered in both rooms. This layer did not contain any in situ potsherds and therefore, it was regarded as an accumulation of alluvium. The layer below it (L114) contained various potsherds, including a bowl (Fig. 3:1) that dated to the Early Roman period, as well as a bowl (Fig. 3:2) and a Type 3A Kefar Hananyacooking pot (Fig. 3:3) that dated to the Late Roman period. Bedrock was exposed in Room 106.

A probe (L101; 2 × 2 m, depth c. 0.8 m) was excavated in the southwestern corner of the area; a bowl (Fig. 3:4) and other potsherds that dated to the Early Roman period were found.

In the absence of floors, it was not possible to date the building; however, the potsherds recovered from L114 indicate that the structure postdated the Late Roman period.